Page 80 of A Dreamy Match Made in Heaven
And when they entered into the room, it appeared as though all were holding their breath. The sight of two hands intertwined left the room in a fit of happiness and Thomas and Sophia broke off into speaking with their friends separately, confirming that they were formally courting.
Lady Cranford gave him a congratulatory smile, but stayed with the women and spoke in encouragement with Sophia.
Officer Kingsley slapped Thomas on the back with a supportive grin.
“It’s about time the two of you finally found your way back to one another,” he said.
“You could not be more right. I am relieved that we are formally courting and I shall speak with her parents at once to gain their approval on the matter,” Thomas said.
“I am glad to hear it. However, I think the evening is not yet over,” he said.
“Whatever do you mean?” Thomas asked.
“I mean that you are not the only one who gets to have a happy ending this evening,” he replied.
With that, Officer Kingsley stepped toward Lady Alcott and took her hand.
“My darling Adrianna,” he said, bending on his knee before her.
The whole room fell silent and eyes bulged as they watched the inevitable joyous display. Excitement exuded from every corner and Thomas made his way beside Sophia as they saw the moment between their two dearest friends.
“Adrianna, I should like nothing more in all of this world than to ask you to be my wife,” he said.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck.
Everyone began to laugh and cheer, understanding this to be her agreement.
And with that, Officer Kingsley and Adrianna began their betrothal. He later told the room that he had already spoken to Lord and Lady Danby Earlier in the week and obtained their permission, particularly with the aid of Lord and Lady Faversham who had approved of him from the start.
Thomas was shocked that Officer Kingsley had managed to keep it all a secret this whole time, but he was also thrilled for his friend and was glad that they would all now be enjoying the fact of matrimony in the near future.
He thought about the moment that he would ask for the approval of Lord and Lady Silsby to marry Sophia. He was not overly concerned. Their two families got along well and he felt confident that they would approve of him as her match.
He also wondered how the news would be taken by Miss Wainwright. Perhaps it was time now to write to her, to tell her the truth about everything that had happened and why there had been such a great mess of drama surrounding their union.
“My dear?” Thomas asked, leaning over to Sophia.
“What is it?” she replied, grinning up at him with a look of admiration that melted his heart.
“I think it is time for us to tell Miss Wainwright, don’t you?” he asked.
A burst of laughter left her lips and she nodded.
“Oh dear, I think she shall be terribly angry with us for not having told her sooner,” Sophia said.
“I think so as well. But the time has come and I think it shall be fine. After all, she was right. Her success rate shall remain perfect. She brought us back together once and we made it happen the final time. We were never meant to be apart. But now we never shall be,” Thomas guaranteed.
“I have never heard a more wonderful truth,” Sophia said.
Thomas could hardly speak for his joy after that. There was so much to be thankful for and he wondered if he could ever be this happy again. The night had brought everything he had ever hoped for and so much more.
Sophia’s joy was the best thing he had imagined. She was exquisite when she exuded this level of happiness. And now that they were beginning a formal courtship, he would see her often, see her in this place of gladness and prosperity with the love that they had both believed to have failed them.
As Thomas watched Sophia celebrate with Adrianna during the rest of the evening, he thought about how foolish he had been to wait this long. But this time, he was able to replace his regret with hope. Because for all that had gone in the past, there was a future ahead for them.
And everything was finally going to end up as it always was meant to have been. The perfect match had been made. The perfect union was coming together in a flurry of ideal scenarios.
And Lady Sophia Hastings would soon be his wife.
